“There,” said Bartholomew, raising the box, which from its weight and capacity promised a rich reward, “I think we have now what will season our labours well.  What think you, Master Dee?”

But the Doctor was absorbed in visions of future greatness, now bursting on him with a glory and rapidity almost painful to contemplate.  He seized the shrine, scarcely giving his helpmate time to fill up and conceal their depredations.

“But the fifty pieces—­have you got them safe?” inquired Bartholomew.

“They are in my pouch.  I do think the demon hath forgotten to demand them.”

“Fear not, he will be ready enough to ask for his own.  What comes o’er the devil’s back will sooner or later go under his belly!”

“Let us pack and begone,” said the Doctor, fearful of losing his treasure.

The box was presently swung over the seer’s shoulders, Dee following to keep all safe, though not without many apprehensions and misgivings of heart.  He feared lest the spirit might appear again for his own; or, at least, for the fifty pieces of gold, which were his right.

Just as they came to the gap by the yew-tree, and Bartholomew was resting against the trunk, a voice from behind them shouted—­

“Stop!—­What make ye here, ye villains?”

Dee turned round and the light flashed upon two armed men, masked, who evidently came towards them with no friendly intent.

“Put down that box,” said the foremost.

Bartholomew was proceeding to surrender at discretion, but Dee first inquired their errand.

“We can tell ye that in a twinkling,” said the malicious intruders, “after we have stepped up to the lodge, and given them a pretty guess at the quality of the knaves who be robbing of their garden.  Nay, Doctor, we take no excuse, unless we take our share of the spoil with it.  To work, or ye budge not hence without discovery.”

This was a provoking interruption—­their all depended on a favourable issue to this adventure.  Dee therefore offered terms of capitulation as follows:—­

“I’ll give you five-and-twenty gold pieces on the spot if ye will let us pass.”

“Five-and-twenty!—­why, that box may hold five-and-twenty hundred,” said the freebooter with a whistle, by way of derision.

“Perhaps not,” said the Doctor, warily; “it is not yet tried, and may not be opened here without risk.  Come to my lodgings to-morrow, and we will share in the product.”

“Nay,” returned the rogue, sharply, “a pullet in the pen is worth a hundred in the fen.  Come, we will deal kindly with thee:  give us fifty, and pass on.”

Dee willingly opened his pouch, and threw the gold into the fellow’s greasy cap, which he held out for the purpose.  Immediately they took to their heels and departed.

“The demon was more kind, and of a different nature from those that do generally haunt these hidden treasures,” said the Doctor, as he trudged along, following closely at Bartholomew’s heels.  “If he had not warned me to bring the gold, these thieves must needs have opened the box.  Had they seen the vast hoard which it contains I should not have been released for thrice the sum.”